The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-06-12
LIZ VERT STILL THINKS
THAT ALABAMA, MISSISSIPPI
AND TENNESSEE
Are Declining in Wealth and Popu-
IatIcp, Though His Figures
Are Against dim.
HE TAKES A sPECIOUS POSI-
TON AGAINST
The Appeal, and Winds Up With q
Most Rgregious and IBexcus'
able Blunder.
60 the EDITOR Of the Appsal:

To the Editor Of the Appeal:
In last Sundays APPEAL | took
the position that Alabama, Missis-
sippi aud West Tennessee were not
improving, and advocated the pro-
priety OF agitating immigration as
one of the means which Memphis |
should adopt for the good of those
States directly and for her own event
nal good. The APPEAL took issue
with me, contendiug that the States
named we're improving, and that the
agitation Ofimmigration to the South
was both impracticable and unnec-
essary. Impracticable because the
scheme of obtaining immigration
had been tried and was failure, and
unnecessary so far as the growth aud
prosperity Of Memphis is concerned,
adding that the trade in the States
under discussion is Sound enough
TO bear the weight of an increasing
trade that makes Memphis oonspiou-
Gus as the largest inland cotton mar
ket in the world, and one Of the best
grocery markets in the Union" This
sounds very we'll on paper, but when
we consider that cotton is almost the
only product that is raised bOuRti-
fully in the States named, and that
by its almost exclusive cultivation
the masses who produce 1T are get
ting poorer every year, the picture
does not look so rosy. Like the tariff
cotton benefits the few to the detri-
ment of the many, as it is now pro-
duced. The Memphis cotton factor
for advancing aud handling, and the
Western farmer for supplying the
necessary nourishment both for man
and beast, are the parties that reap
the benefit. Cotton is our theme
for Boosting, while cotton sheds oc-
cupy the ground in Memphis that
manufacturing establishments have
allotted to them in our most prosper
GUS cities. New Orleans has for
years enjoyed the reputation Of being
the largest cotton market in the
world. She claims 2 600. 600 bales as
her receipts, while Memphis boasts
of 100000. New Orleans is today
dead, so far as general commercial
progress is concerned, and her friend,
"King Cotton is on hand attending
her obsequies. From 1870 to 1880
her increase in population was only
about IL per cent, which is certainly
a very poor showing in growth for the
largest cotton market in the world.
Understand me; l am not decrying
the cultivation of cotton, or its i'm
portance in commerce, but l do say
that with it rs our only product
neither Memphis or the States tribu-
tary to her will ever reach any great
measure of prosperity. l grant you
that Memphis is great grocery
market. / also admit that the grocery
business OF Memphis is larger, per-
haps, than her combined trade in all
other branches. But we must not
lose sight OF the fact, for it is patent,
that our farmers buy their -four corn,
meal, meat, canned goods, ETC., while
the farmers OF the Eastern, Middle
and Western States produce these
necessities of fe at home. This
fact increases the business of the
Memphis grocer above that of his
neighbor in other cities whose patrons
are more self sustaining. Is it not
questionable then as to whether the
large grOoery trade of Memphis in
nures to the good of the people whom
she supplies2 The APPEALS show.
ing as to the increase OF population
as well as Of farm products in Ala
bama, Mississippi and Tennessee
look we'll in type, but they will not
bear analysis. The United States
census reports for 1880 tell us that
there was very great inaccuracy in the
census estimates of the population of
the South in 1870, on account of the
great difficulty in computing the
number OF negroes. The same re-
ports say that the negro population
of the South was much larger in 1870
than the census estimates OF that
da' made it. Hence, the showinG
OF increase in population in 1880 was
excessive. The APPEAL should alsC
remember that the natural increase
OF States population by births ovel
mortality is a consideration in osti
mating increase Of population. A
State can be barely maintaining it,
position in population comparatively
and still show its usual natural in
crease.
Let us compare the growth in pop
ulatiou of Alabama, Mississippi anC
Tennessee, with few States whicl
have been receiving immigration
aud see their relative showing as t
increase in population: